The Gunners’ boss feared he was grounded in the attempt to go top of the Premier League when Jermain Defoe rocketed the equaliser from the penalty spot.

But Wenger’s quick thinking to send on Olivier Giroud as a second half substitute won Arsenal the game with the bearded French force scoring two in five fabulous minutes.

Alexis Sanchez added to his first half header – and Sunderland were doomed to another crash landing day with boss David Moyes sipping, in his own words, more poison.

No such stomach-churning for Wenger who couldn’t hide his delight as he beamed about enjoying playing the game of roulette with his multi-talented stars.

Wenger said: “When you have quality on the bench it’s easy to make good decisions. Giroud, the first two balls he touched, were two goals. When they score goals there is no headache – it’s when they don’t score.

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“Sanchez is doing extremely well and I believe he enjoys it. Olivier is a guy who is absolutely fantastic mentally. He comes on and he’s strong every time”

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger praised Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez

“Nobody can play all the games and it’s down to me to find the right balance. Sometimes I can play them together. Sometimes separately. But everyone should get the number of games they want.

“Sanchez is doing extremely well and I believe he enjoys it. Olivier is a guy who is absolutely fantastic mentally. He comes on and he’s strong every time.

“Every time he is questioned he gives you the right answer on the pitch and I admire that in him. He’s a guy who has gone through some difficult questions. Even before the European Championships he was questioned by the crowd and in the end everyone was on his side.”

Moyes couldn’t join in the half time tannoy playing of Bob Marley’s “Don’t Worry About A Thing”. By then he was heading for defeat after ending his programme notes with a hopeful message, telling the faithful to “enjoy the match.”

Not much chance of that when the Gunners are in town.

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Alexis Sanchez bagged a double against Sunderland

Sunderland’s sea-front illuminations with a Halloween theme weren’t brighter or scarier than Arsenal’s opening to this one-sided contest.

Wenger’s men were wonderful. The champions of free-flowing football with the threat of a knock-out blow every time they challenged Sunderland’s teetering back four.

They passed for fun but, clearly, Sunderland weren’t laughing with Arsenal in such a commanding position that they should have been out of sight before the interval break – and would have been with more clinical finishing.

Mesut Ozil gave a glimpse of what was to come when he slipped through unchallenged and should have scored instead of seeing his low, squirming shot easily collected by keeper Jordan Pickford.

But in the 19th minute, Arsenal were ahead. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain delivered the perfect, pin-pointed cross for Sanchez to power in a stooping header.

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Sunderland's season has lurched from bad to worse

Patrick Van Aanholt tried to lift Sunderland spirits with a free kick he steered just past the upright and Defoe had a “goal” disallowed for offside.

But when normal service was resumed, Sanchez was just off target with a whipped in free kick and then Ozil looked a gift horse in the mouth – and missed.

Ozil was clear through once more and tried to chip Pickford but the keeper stayed strong and managed to get his big hands to a weak effort which should have spelled goal No 2.

Defoe couldn’t reach a Didier Ndong drive across the face of goal which would have lifted the Stadium of Light before the game was turned on its head.

Sanchez appealed for a penalty when he wriggled past Lamine Kone only to go crashing to earth as they tangled in the box but referee Martin Atkinson waved away the protests.

The official was in no doubt, though, in the 62nd minute when Duncan Watmore tumbled as he brushed past keeper Petr Cech and Atkinson didn’t hesitate pointing to the spot.

Defoe confidently sent Cech the wrong way and the whole of Sunderland believed the impossible dream.

Arsenal had other ideas. Giroud was only on as a substitute for two minutes when he tucked the ball comfortably into the bottom corner from Kieran Gibbs’ cross to score the second in the 71st minute.

And then great Giroud back-headed in from Ozil’s corner and in the 78th minute Sanchez turned in the fourth from close range to send Sunderland supporters heading for the exit door.